His Nanny Mate By Eve Above Story

Chapter 14: Family Event
Moana

“I’ll pay.”

Ella and I were both shocked when we turned around to see Edrick standing there, credit card in hand, his face covered by sunglasses and a surgical mask.

“Daddy!” Ella exclaimed.

Edrick handed the ice cream salesman his credit card and ruffled Ella’s hair. “Eat your ice cream before it melts,” he said, guiding us away from the stand and the people behind us who were getting quickly annoyed at us for holding up the line to get ice cream.

“I thought you had to work,” Ella said.

“I decided to come home early so I could spend your birthday with you after all,” Edrick replied. “But you weren’t home. Selina told me that you went on an outing…” I couldn’t see his eyes through his sunglasses, but the way his head slowly turned toward me told me everything I needed to know.

down at my rapidly-melting ice cream. We approached a bench and Edrick instructed Ella to sit while she finished her ice cream, then he stood next to me and lowered his voice while she happily swung

no money?” he asked, his voice

had to take out money in a while. And besides, the driver is close;

jumped up from her bench.

would make her go home, and

“It’s really not safe

it’s my birthday,” she whined. “You never want to go anywhere, and I’m having

said quietly. “Let her enjoy her birthday. And

a deep sigh and crouching to wipe the ice cream off

squealed in delight and, taking both of our hands, began to drag us around the theme park with just as much — if not more — fervor as she had when it was just the two of us. As we spent the afternoon walking around the theme park, I couldn’t help but take out my phone to secretly snap some sweet pictures of Ella and Edrick together. It was so sweet watching them play games together, and seeing Ella sitting on Edrick’s shoulders while we walked that I couldn’t help myself. Edrick didn’t seem to mind the photos, either,

began to feel tired. Ella, however, still had just as much energy, and insisted on one more ride before we went home. I suggested the ferris wheel because it was slow and relaxing, and

ferris wheel. Edrick sat across from me with Ella on his lap. As we started to go up, now that we were safe from prying eyes, Edrick took off his sunglasses to reveal steely gray eyes that appeared surprisingly happy for the

fun outing just as

the theme park under the setting sun, an involuntary gasp came out of my mouth. The way that the last rays of sunlight refracted across the treetops as they swayed in the hot summer breeze, and the way that the string lights lit up the park below us, made the city feel even more dazzling than before. Not only that, but the breeze ruffled through my hair and cooled

from me to see Ella giggling and peering out over the crowd. And behind her,

was looking at

away quickly, as though he had only glanced at me on accident. Soon, the ferris wheel began

wheel went around a few times more. When it finally came to a stop at the bottom, the attendant let us out. Edrick put his mask back on then got out with Ella in one of his arms. Then, he turned around and held out his other hand for me to help me out. My